How a cast-needle tree is made

The trees we sell are cast in a Ukrainian workshop in Uman. Here is what that involves — and why a cast branch costs more than a film one.

Raw material

The material is 100% virgin SABIC polyethylene (the Netherlands). Virgin means not recycled: recycled stock is cheaper but gives patchy colour and turns brittle over time. Colour and springiness of the branch are exactly what set a tree apart from a cheap one.

Shape

The branch is pressure-moulded in a mould taken from real needles. That is why it has a vein, thickness and a rounded tip rather than the straight edge of cut film.

Assembly

The crown is assembled by hand, branch by branch, on a metal frame. The finished tree opens in one minute — the folding design means the buyer has nothing to put together.

What it means when you buy

Dispatch in 1–3 working days by Nova Poshta, pay on delivery, no prepayment. Don’t collect the parcel — don’t pay; and 14 days for returns give you time to judge the branch texture at home.